Oregon’s current prison population of 14,000 prisoners will grow significantly over the next five years. The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis issued its bi-annual report which says much of the growth is due to the passage of laws over the past several years that extend prison sentences for certain crimes. In late 2011 to 2016, a new period of growth will likely add 2,000 inmates to the population. The population will reach 15,000 in mid-2013; 15,500 in mid-2014; and exceed 16,000 inmates in 2016, when growth rates will likely level off.